My Childhood Friend, Sometimes a Schoolgirl—She Only Wears That Ribbon Around Me - Episode 2

It was the beginning of June, two months into my second year of high school.

Most students were starting to get used to their new classes, slowly settling into their groups. Meanwhile, I was spending my breaks slumped over my desk, trying to make it through without talking to anyone.

It’s not like I don’t have any friends—but I don’t have a single person in this class I can casually chat with during free time.

The private school I go to, Mebuki High, has over a thousand students, and because there are so many classes, everyone I got close to last year ended up in different ones.

Ideally, I should’ve tried to make new friends right away and gotten used to the new environment. But I missed my chance… and now here I am.

I can make small talk with the guy who sits next to me, but unlike me, he’s super outgoing and is already having a good time joking around with the popular kids in class.

“Where did I go wrong…?”

I mumbled into my arms, my voice too quiet for anyone to hear.

Back in elementary school, I used to talk to anyone—boys, girls, didn’t matter. I wasn’t afraid of anything. Now, that version of me feels like someone from a parallel universe.

But people change. As I grew up, I learned my own limits. Somewhere along the way, I became more hesitant and withdrawn.

If I still had that same confidence, maybe my high school life would’ve turned out a lot more exciting.

I peeked through the crook of my elbow and looked toward a group of classmates gathered in the corner of the room.

There they were—a pack of girls who stood out more than anyone else in class. A four-person gal group that rose to the top of the class social ladder almost as soon as the new term started.

Short skirts that screamed “modern high school girl,” flashy nails, cute hairstyles—just looking at them gave off this powerful “don’t come near us” vibe.

Still, even among people like that, there’s always at least one “soothing presence.”

“…Yep, Minakata really is cute.”

Saho Minakata.
Even though she was part of the flashy gal group, she gave off this soft, warm aura that helped balance out their intensity. I couldn’t help but stare.

Blonde twin tails, long pale legs peeking out from her skirt, and a large chest you could notice even through her shirt—ever since the new term began, I kept catching myself watching her.

She was definitely part of the high-ranking crowd, but something about her didn’t quite scream “full-on gal.” She just didn’t seem as over-the-top as the others.

Minakata was great at dealing with people and treated everyone equally. Even someone like me—on the verge of being a total loner—still got a friendly smile and a “good morning” or “see you” from her. Honestly, to a guy like me who doesn’t get attention from girls, it felt like a mini fan service.

That said, I’m not delusional enough to think, “Wait, does she like me?” or anything cringey like that.

She’s the class idol—someone everyone looks up to. Of course I’ve imagined what it’d be like to date her, but let’s be real, I’m probably not the only one who’s thought that.

And even if I do admire her from afar, I’ve never had the guts to actually talk to her.

I buried my face back into my arms, pretending to sleep again.

I wasn’t even sleepy, but with my eyes closed, my hearing felt sharper.

“Hey, is that story for real?”

“For real, for real! The new transfer student in Class 6 is apparently super hot!”

“Wanna go check him out after second period? I heard there’s already a huge crowd, and you can’t even see from the hallway!”

“Didn’t he transfer from Tokyo? I heard a rumor he might actually be a celebrity!”

“No way, really? And wait, it’s a guy? I thought the transfer student was supposed to be a girl! That’s such a twist!”

The gal group’s loud chatter pierced my ears, and it was starting to get annoying. If I had to listen to someone, I’d prefer Minakata’s voice—but it didn’t sound like she was talking much.

…A transfer student from Tokyo, huh.

That reminded me of Yua Yushiro, my childhood friend who moved away during elementary school.

If all I’d heard was “A student from Tokyo is transferring in,” maybe I could’ve let myself dream for a second—Could it be Yua, coming back? But after hearing it’s a hot guy, that fantasy didn’t even get a chance to take root.

“Okay, so next break we’re all going to check out the hottie!”

Apparently, the poor guy was about to become the class’s main attraction—like some animal in a zoo. My condolences.

I cracked one eye open and looked around. While the girls were getting all hyped, most of the guys nearby looked visibly annoyed, eyebrows furrowed. Mine were too, I’m sure. Pathetic as it is to admit, it was pure jealousy. I couldn’t help but resent the guy for being handsome.

“Right? You’re coming too, Saho?”

“…!”

The moment one of the gals said Minakata’s name, I panicked.

I practically sprang up from my desk and instinctively turned my head toward them.

My desk rattled with the sudden movement, and all eyes in the classroom turned to me. Including the glares from the gal group, which clearly said “Who the hell is this?”

“You’re… Tsuzuki, right? Do you need something from us?”

One of the girls met my gaze and spoke in a flat voice that carried a ton of pressure.

“Ah, no, not really… Just had a bad dream and jolted awake, that’s all…”

Scratching my head awkwardly, I forced a weak smile and quickly ducked back down.

Yeah, it was my fault for eavesdropping—but did she really need to stare at me like that? The difference between how they look at a hot guy versus how they look at me is physically painful.

“So, what about you, Saho? You’ve been quiet this whole time.”

They brushed me off like I didn’t exist and picked their conversation right back up.

I shamelessly listened in again, my heart pounding in anticipation of her reply.

Please, please say you’re not going. Don’t show interest in some good-looking guy. Just give me a tiny sliver of hope—let me dream for a second…

“If everyone’s going, I guess I’ll come too…”

Welp. So much for that dream.

From the way she said it, it didn’t sound like Minakata was all that excited about it.

Still, whether she was interested or just going along with her friends, the fact that she might actually talk to the new guy was devastating for someone like me who saw her as a kind of school idol.

With her looks and friendly personality, it wouldn’t take much for most guys to fall for her.

If she ended up liking the transfer student, my little crush would shatter in an instant. Not that I’d be able to stop it or anything.

Quietly wiping away the slight tears on my arm, I had no choice but to keep pretending to sleep.